Ethiopia: Strengthening resilience to natural hazards and disasters

IMC assisted the Ethiopian National Meteorological Agency and Hydrology and Water Quality Directorate to deliver weather, climate and hydrological services to help reduce the impact of natural disasters and hazards and improve social and economic development.

IMC aimed to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of the Ethiopian National Meteorological Agency (NMA) and Hydrology and Water Quality Directorate to deliver weather, climate and hydrological services to reduce the impact of natural hazards, avoid disasters, and improve social and economic development.

Ethiopia is experiencing sustained economic growth and is on the path toward becoming a middle-income country. This has brought positive trends in poverty reduction, in both urban and rural areas.

However, Ethiopia faces growing disaster and climate vulnerabilities. The country has suffered from recurrent droughts and floods, with an estimated 70% of the population living in areas at risk.

Therefore, IMC supported the Met Office throughout the 20-month project to improve social and economic development and minimise natural risks and disasters.

IMC and the Met Office completed an evaluation of hazards and environmental conditions such as weather, hydrological and climate, and their impact on Ethiopia.

The World Bank-funded project incorporated an analysis of the status and requirements for weather, climate and hydrological information and services at national, woreda (district) and kebele (ward) levels.

This included specific examination for disaster reduction, climate adaptation and climate change, agriculture and food security, hydropower and water resource management, public health, transportation safety and air and water quality.

IMC assisted the Met Office with an assessment of the capacity of NMA and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, including their mandates, legal basis and regulations, staffing, funding, development plans and priorities, the status of infrastructure, products and services, working arrangements among agencies and international activities.

IMC participated in a social and economic evaluation of the potential benefits of modernised systems and enhanced service delivery.

Based on consultations with stakeholders and the assessments completed within the project, IMC and the Met Office produced a plan for a modernised programme to improve hydromet products and services to meet current and future requirements.

The plan included three investment alternatives for institutional strengthening and capacity building, modernisation of the observing infrastructure, data management, forecasts and warnings and enhancing service delivery.

In addition, IMC contributed to in-depth research and evaluation of the required operation and maintenance resources and capacity needed to sustain these alternatives.